Project 119: Obadiah
| Project 119 | Joel Burks
Obadiah just happens to be the shortest book of the Old Testament, BUT just because it is short, does not mean it has any less importance. The origin of Obadiah has been disputed by commentators over the years. Some think he may have been associated with Ahab’s court in some way, and others think he might have been a contemporary of Amos, Hosea and others. In his book, Obadiah describes to us a vision he has seen. You might be thinking to yourself, surely this guy had more to say in his lifetime than the little bit that made it into the Bible. It is true that Obadiah likely prophesied many other things. This book, however, made it into the canon of Scripture, so even though we only have twenty-one verses, we know they are inspired by God and important for us to study!
Obadiah, is a name that means “one who serves and worships Yahweh.” We see in Obadiah’s book that he describes the destruction of Edom. The people of Edom were descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin. They always seem to have felt a real kinship with the people of Israel. However, this often showed itself in ways that were less than neighborly. The two neighboring peoples—Israel and Edom—had a long history of war and rivalry.
In Edom’s case, pride just happened to be their downfall. Obadiah suggests that when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army, the Edomites did nothing to help and they may have even taken advantage of Judah’s fate. He writes, “You shouldn’t have gloated over your brother when he was down and out” (Obadiah 12, The Message). He goes on to say, “As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head” (Obadiah 15, NIV). This highlights one of the basic principles of Christianity that we should love each other. If I am constantly waiting on the failure of the person who wronged me, I could be waiting a long time. In the case of Edom, we should never feel joy when an enemy falls. Rather, we should extend the same grace and compassion that God extends to us.
The good news for Israel is that Obadiah speaks of the great deliverance that is to come (verses 17, 21); this of course will take place on the day of the Lord (verse 8,15). He writes, “The day of the Lord is near” (Obadiah 15, NIV). On that day the great deliverance will take place: “The remnant of the Saved in Mount Zion will go into the mountains of Esau and rule justly and fairly, a rule that honors God’s kingdom” (Obadiah 21, The Message).
Lord I pray that You will give us all the ability to serve and to treat everyone we meet with the grace and compassion that You have given to us.
Obadiah (ESV):
1 The vision of Obadiah.
Edom Will Be Humbled
Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:
We have heard a report from the LORD,
and a messenger has been sent among the nations:
“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
you shall be utterly despised.
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the LORD.
5 If thieves came to you,
if plunderers came by night—
how you have been destroyed!—
would they not steal only enough for themselves?
If grape gatherers came to you,
would they not leave gleanings?
6 How Esau has been pillaged,
his treasures sought out!
7 All your allies have driven you to your border;
those at peace with you have deceived you;
they have prevailed against you;
those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—
you have no understanding.
8 Will I not on that day, declares the LORD,
destroy the wise men out of Edom,
and understanding out of Mount Esau?
9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
Edom’s Violence Against Jacob
10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you,
and you shall be cut off forever.
11 On the day that you stood aloof,
on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother
in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their ruin;
do not boast
in the day of distress.
13 Do not enter the gate of my people
in the day of their calamity;
do not gloat over his disaster
in the day of his calamity;
do not loot his wealth
in the day of his calamity.
14 Do not stand at the crossroads
to cut off his fugitives;
do not hand over his survivors
in the day of distress.
The Day of the LORD Is Near
15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
so all the nations shall drink continually;
they shall drink and swallow,
and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
and the house of Joseph a flame,
and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,
for the LORD has spoken.
The Kingdom of the LORD
19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,
and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel
shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.